The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,155
nun look pleased?
'King Rolen, I am honour-bound to speak the truth,' Autumnwind warned.
'Of course, of course.' Her father waved him on. Piro realised if the Affinity warder had to condemn Cobalt, he would do it, even though it would not please the king. No wonder Springdawn looked satisfied.
'Proceed,' the king said.
'Very well. Will someone restrain the candidate?'
'You do not need to hold me.' Cobalt lifted his hands palm up. With his handsome features, he looked noble and wronged. 'I will not struggle.'
Autumnwind grimaced. 'You may collapse. It can be -'
'Then I'll sit.' Cobalt beckoned a servant who hurried over with a straight-backed chair.
After this was adjusted to Autumnwind's satisfaction Cobalt sat, hands resting on his thighs. 'I'm ready.'
Everyone else seemed more uncomfortable with the proceedings than he.
'Will it hurt?' Piro asked the question that seemed to be on everyone's mind.
'Only if he resists,' Autumnwind explained.
Cobalt blinked once and inhaled deeply, as though preparing for the worst. Despite herself, Piro felt a tug of admiration and sympathy.
She gave herself a mental shake. If this hurt Cobalt - and she was certain it would - it was his own fault for using Affinity to manipulate her family.
Springdawn stepped closer to Piro, hemming her in, so that the nun was on one side and the queen on the other.
'This natural shielding, Piro,' Springdawn's soft voice fell into the rhythm of lecture, 'you have it too.'
Piro went very still.
Unaware of her reaction, Springdawn raised her voice. 'I am here if you need support, warder.'
The monk sent her a sharp look that held an undercurrent of dislike.
Then Autumnwind, Halcyon Affinity warder, stepped around behind Cobalt, placed both hands on the larger man's temples and closed his eyes.
Piro desperately wanted to observe Autumnwind's technique. She longed to open her senses so that she could see with her Unseen sight but she didn't dare, not with the wardess at her side.
'Do not fear, Piro.' Springdawn took her hand and squeezed it. 'Affinity rarely turns nasty. Though I did read of one occasion when the warder died before they could disengage his senses from the candidate, who turned out to be a renegade Power-worker in disguise.'
Autumnwind's eyes flew open and the look he sent her this time was definitely unfriendly. Then he lowered his lids again and spoke the words to clear his mind and open his senses.
Piro looked away, controlling her instinct to observe. She felt Springdawn do the same thing, distancing herself from the procedure. Why would she do that? Was the Sylion nun leaving her colleague to sink or swim?
At least a dozen people were present, but no one fidgeted or spoke as the silence stretched. Piro heard servants going about their tasks. Voices echoed down the halls, distorted by distance, while, in the great hall, there was only the sound of the fire crackling in the hearth, which was big enough to burn a trunk as thick as a man was tall.
Despite her best intentions, Piro's gaze was drawn back to Autumnwind and Cobalt. The monk frowned and Cobalt grimaced, lips white as if in pain. Sweat beads collected on the monk's forehead. Cobalt groaned and ground his teeth.
Piro had to fight the instinct to reach for her Affinity. The effort made her sway.
Springdawn noticed. 'Are you unwell, Piro?'
'She's upset,' her mother said and gently led her away from the others over to the table where their wine sat forgotten. She pressed Piro into a chair and put her head forwards. The nun followed them.
'Breath deeply, Piro. It will pass,' her mother said.
'I know it is not a pretty sight, this Affinity seeking,' Springdawn said softly. 'The smell of blood affects me the same way.'
'I'm all right now,' Piro whispered. She lifted her head, feeling her cheeks grow warm as the colour returned. 'What... what happens if he can't get past Cobalt's natural shielding?'
'Then sorbt stones are the final proof. We strap a stone to the Candidate's naked skin and leave it there. At some point his concentration must falter, he has to let down his guard to sleep, you see. The moment his walls drop the stone will sense the Affinity and naturally try to absorb it. Any trained warder can detect if the stone is activated. The danger is, that once activated the stone can drain an untrained person to death within heartbeats. Sorbt stones are very powerful.'
Piro shuddered and glanced towards Cobalt and Byren. Despite her fear of detection she wanted to see what was happening. 'How long will this take?'